Apple's next-gen iPad rumored with world mode GSM-CDMA radio

The 3G model of Apple's next-generation iPad will be a "world mode" device with both GSM and CDMA radios, allowing Apple to sell one model for integrated wireless access, according to a new rumor.

Analyst Brian Blair from Wedge Partners said in a note to investors that Apple is developing a new iPad with a Qualcomm multimode CDMA-GSM chips built in. In the U.S., such a chip would allow the iPad to run on both AT&T and Verizon networks, which use different wireless technology.

The addition of a CDMA iPad to Apple's product line would not come as a major surprise, as Apple has already begun selling the iPad through Verizon. However, because the 3G model is not compatible with Verizon's CDMA network, the carrier offers the Wi-Fi-only model bundled with a MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot for connectivity on the go.

Blair also indicated that the new iPad will be thinner and will have a forward-facing camera. In September, AppleInsider reported that Apple plans to move aggressively in pushing FaceTime, with future plans including a camera-equipped iPad.

"The new iPad is thinner than the existing model and is essentially made from one piece of metal with no pins needed," Blair wrote. "We understand it requires a new type of manufacturing process as a result, similar to the company's unibody approach seen in MacBooks."

The 3G model of Apple's next-generation iPad will be a "world mode" device with both GSM and CDMA radios, allowing Apple to sell one model for integrated wireless access, according to a new rumor.

I think this points toward Apple's 'cloud' music service that we've been hearing rumors of. Basically, like Pandora on your iPad, only you can get a version that will be 3G for music only. This'd be awesome -- an iPad as your music server. I've always thought Apple needed something better audio-wise to compete against Logitech's Squeezebox and the Sonos system. It could make a great stand-alone music jukebox.

I haven't bought an iPad because I have a netbook running a Logitech Squeezebox of my music collection that consists of 90GB of .flac files. If and iPad would do something similar, I'd be all over that. I've already coverted my .flac's to .m4a's for the day when the iPad gets 128GB of memory.

Yawn. The original iPad was "rumored" to be a Verizon exclusive device up until it's announcement. Actually if you remember, the Wall Street Journal "confirmed" it was a CDMA device according to their sources in the know.

Still...regardless of how unreliable any rumors involving CDMA and Verizon are...the iPad makes way more sense for them to make CDMA, since it would not suffer from having some functionality toned down.

"The new iPad is thinner than the existing model and is essentially made from one piece of metal with no pins needed," Blair wrote. "We understand it requires a new type of manufacturing process as a result, similar to the company's unibody approach seen in MacBooks."

Does this guy even know how the current iPad is constructed?
It is already a unibody construction, one piece of metal with no pins!!!
What the hell is he talking about?

It would be pretty funny if all verizon got was the iPad. I'm telling you, if they get the iPhone....they are going to rape people on charges. They will get an even bigger case of The Big Head.

You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. Verizon may be full of idiots, but so is every other telecom. The important thing is the idiots don't manage plan prices, they manage the company.

Verizon's iPhone plans will be identical to AT&Ts if they want ANYONE to use an iPhone on their network.

i think apple should ditch the wifi-only version all together. sell one version starting at $499 with various storage sizes...

A 3G radio can't be that expensive. Certainly not $130. It's probably more like $2.

It will save people grief when trying to choose which they want, plus it will cut production costs and increase supply.

I guess they will lose a bit by axing the premium people pay for the 3G model now though...

I absolutely agree. I still can't get over how ridiculous the extra $130 charge is. Plus, wouldn't they want millions of iPad owners to have the option of turning on "aka" paying for 3G data?

That's where the real money is. Overcharging for wireless data. Just ask AT&T. Data plans = all of their profit from iPhone sales. They lose hundreds on the hardware. Break even with voice/text, and then finally profit from those mandatory data plans.

Problem is, Apple sees no additional profit from selling a 3G model than wifi, unless they artificially charge more. (like now) unless they have the vision to see that always-on data results in more iTunes/App store sales.